Hotel Association Nepal focuses on cross border tourism development

Inaugurating the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) on June 7, he underlined need of marketing destinations, strengthening human resources, developing tourism products and infrastructures.

Ambassador Jayant Prasad of India, presenting his keynote address on ' Cross Border Tourism Development ', highlighted on possibilities of tourism development between the two countries.

The envoy said the South Asian countries lag behind in getting maximum benefits of tourism despite their attractive cultural and adventure tourism products. He emphasized to connect Buddhist tourist sites between Nepal and India including joint promotion in the world tourism market.

On the occasion, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal Leela Mani Poudel said,' As Nepal is far behind in tourism development, it is necessary to go ahead with concrete plans to develop tourism.'

'Nepal and India should focus on connecting and promoting Hindu and Buddhist circuits along with strengthening infrastructures to attract large number of tourists from international market,' he added.

Hotel Association Nepal President Shyam S.L. Kakshapati urged the government to recognize the contributions and potentials of the tourism to encourage and support the industry to provide a conducive environment for its revival.

'The problems of power crisis, labour unrest, political instability and forceful donation drive of the political parties has worsened overall business climate in the country,' Kakshapati added.

B.K. Shrestha, first Vice-president of HAN, noted that aggressive promotional activities in the international market and joint efforts of the government and private sector could change tourism scenario of the country.

Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) was established in 1966, when it had just eight hotels and all of them in Kathmandu itself. More than Rs 150 billion has so far been invested in the hospitality sector and it has generated 300,000 jobs in Nepal.

Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) is the leading representative organization in the hospitality industry, representing more than 300 hotels, resorts and guesthouses of Nepal.

Bagmati River Festival begins

The 13th edition of Bagmati River Festival is going to be organised from June 14 to August 24 this year with the slogan—“Green Kathmandu, Clean Kathmandu”.

The Nepal River Conservation Trust has been organising various programmes every year with an aim at creating awareness, towards restoration and preservation of the Bagmati River and promoting tourism activities along the river corridor, among others.

Activities such as clean-up campaigns, heritage walk, cycle rally, film festival, eco-challenge and plantations are the main attractions of the festival. Conservation activists say that people living near Bagmati still throw garbage in the river

Bhoto Jatra concluded

The last day of this year’s month-long Rato Machhindranath Jatra in Patan, Bhoto Jatra was observed on June 7 by displaying the jewel-studded bhoto (vest) to the crowd gathered in Jawalakhel.

It is a traditionally followed culture from time immemorial to find the owner of the bhoto. It is believed that the bhoto will be continued to be displayed in this particular day until the real owner comes to claim it, from among the crowd, with evidences. From the chariot of the Machhindranath brought at Jawlakhel four days ago for the purpose, the bhoto is shown to the mass thrice in all the four cardinal directions.

This festival is believed to have been observed since the past 1,600 years and usually falls on April-May every year.

Both Hindus and Buddhists observe this festival worshipping Machchindranath as an avatar of Santa Guru Karunamaya and as Padampani respectively.

The bhoto jatra takes place in the presence of the Head of State and accordingly Ram Baran Yadav will be at Jawalakhel this evening to observe it.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Heads of Constitutional Bodies, high-ranking government officials and diplomats are also expected at the venue, says the Guthi Sansthan, that oversees the celebrations.

Asia's tourism businesses commit to UNWTO Global Code of Ethics

Some of Asia’s most prominent tourism businesses have signed the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, committing to implement the ethical provisions of the Code in their policies, plans and business operations. The signing took place at the first Regional Conference on Tourism Partnerships on Future Tourism for Asia and the Pacific in the presence of UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and H.E. Mr. Yoo Jinryong, Korea´s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (1 June, Seoul, Republic of Korea).

It is the first time that Asian tourism businesses have pledged to adhere to the Code. Eight companies from Korea and Hong Kong (China) joined more than 100 others from all over the world who already subscribed to the fundamental idea that the realization of responsible tourism requires that the private sector, like their counterparts in the public sector, embrace the principles of ethical, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. The signing was witnessed by H.E. Mr. Yoo Jinryong, Korea´s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was present at the conference.

“This is a testimony of the commitment of these companies to the principles of a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “I trust that this will lead the way for other companies from Asia and the Pacific, a region which is one of the main engines of sustainable tourism growth today and in the foreseeable future,” he added.

The Code is UNWTO’s core policy document and represents a guide for the development of sustainable tourism. Adopted in 1999 by the UNWTO General Assembly and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, it is designed to guide the development of tourism in a way that maximizes the socio-economic benefits of the sector, while minimizing any negative impacts.

Global Tourism Cities Conference 2013

Kuching, Malaysia has been chosen as the host venue for the 2nd Global Tourism Cities Conference (GTCC)– one of the leading conferences for tourism industry focusing on tourism cities from 2nd – 3rd July 2013.

The Global Tourism Cities Conference 2013 (GTCC 2013), themed “BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CITY”, is expected to bring together 500 odd experts and delegates including city planning and development experts, tourism and hospitality products and services providers, government leaders, policy makers and captains of industry from across the region. They will converge at this conference; meet face to face to discuss a wide spectrum of issues and developments in urban tourism product development, and share success stories and frameworks at the same time strengthen friendship.

Supported by the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak, Sarawak Convention Bureau, PATA and ISOCARP, GTCC 2013 is a must attend event in the region.

Over the two day conference, 12 specific and topical subjects will be presented by authoritative individuals and acknowledged experts under five sessions and a catalyst forum, which are:

Session 1: Tourism City Planning: Key Factor to Success

Session 2: Infrastructure Development for Sustainable Urban Tourism

Session 3: Heritage and Amusement as Tourism City Attractions

Session 4: Success Stories of Regional Urban Tourism Cities

Tourism Industry Catalyst Forum: Building A Sustainable Global Tourism City of The Future:

A Guthi Sansthan official displays the Bhoto (vest) decorated with jewels to thousands of spectators during Bhoto Jatra at Jawalakhel in Lalitpur on June 7, 2013. Photo courtesy: NARENDRA SHRESTHA The Kathmandu Post

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